Grievance & Disciplinary

Grievance Procedures

If there has been a disagreement or situation where you as a member feel a grievance then you should:-

1. Contact League Chairman by email.

2. Write to the committee explaining the grievance within 48 hours of the incident.

3. Be prepared to attend the next committee meeting to report the situation.

4. The committee will investigate with all parties involved in the situation and make a

  decision on the course of action to be taken.

5. You will be notified in writing of the committee decision / course of action. If this involves

  clarification/reinforcement of the rules it will be issued in the minutes.

Disciplinary Procedures

This relates to all players and spectators and does not include offences covered in the MKINL rules which have statutory penalties of point deduction for such things as not supplying an umpire.

The committee have the authority to adjudicate upon disciplinary matters within the League and impose penalties where required.

An umpire or official may report an incident or breach of the code of conduct in writing to any member of the core committee within 72 hours of the incident occurring.

A registered member of the League may report an incident or breach of the code of conduct in writing to the chairman of the league within 72 hours of the incident occurring.

Upon receipt of a complaint the Chairman will request statements from all parties involved. These will then be discussed at the next committee meeting and a decision to hold a formal disciplinary meeting will be made, dependant on the nature of the complaint.

Disciplinary Meeting.

Individuals or team representatives (first contact or captain) required to attend a disciplinary meeting will be given 7 days notice. Any cited player or team who does not appear before the disciplinary hearing may be suspended until such time as they attend a hearing.

Individuals will be heard individually and requested to give their evidence. After all evidence has been heard the committee shall retire once it is confident that it has enough information to reach a decision. The committee shall consider the case and record a finding on the balance of probabilities based on what it believes to be the facts. In the event of a split decision the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

Once the decision has been reached the cited person/team shall be recalled and the Chairman will announce the findings.

If the committee find the offence is proven then the offending player/team shall have the right to make representations as to the penalty.

The committee will then deliberate before announcing the penalty for the decision. The committee may at its discretion report the outcome of the hearing to the league members through the minutes of a committee meeting, without disclosing any identities.

Principles of deliberation

A person or team must be given reasonable opportunity to present their case before a decision is made which will affect them.

The person lodging the complaint must do so in good faith.

Written submissions may be acceptable as evidence.

The committee has the discretion to interview anyone it deems appropriate.

There is no requirement that any party has the opportunity to cross examine other parties.

The committee must be perceived to be free from bias when making a decision. A committee member attending a hearing cannot have any direct or indirect interest in the teams/individual involved.

Penalties

Depending on the severity of the offence, sanctions can move straight to any level.

Level 11st OffenceLeague speak to member and send report to club.

Level 22nd OffenceMatch ban, points deduction. The number of games/points

  depends on the severity of the offence. Fine

Level 33rd OffenceThe member or team will have their membership of the league

  terminated.

Appeal

A member or team may appeal against a decision of the committee on the basis that their matter was incorrectly decided, conducted or new evidence can be provided. On these grounds both the conviction and the severity of the penalty may be appealed by informing the chairman in writing laying out the grounds for appeal. This must be received within 72 hours of the original hearing.